Just De-Vine

In the Yarn Harlot's book, Knitting Rules!, she remarks that one should use the best yarn that they can afford. She states, "In knitting, your end product can be only as good as your starting place." I have to agree. In comes, Tina, color genius.

Back in September, when I was visiting my friend Christy in Portland, in addition to stopping by the Flock & Fiber Festival, I went to Farmhouse Knit Shop. I bought my first skein of Socks that Rock there a few years ago (before I even knew how to knit socks!). Love this store. The one skein of yarn that I purchased in September was a bit pricey, but well worth it. Blue Moon Fiber Arts De-Vine, 100% Merino Wool, Handpainted in the color Falcon's Eye (please don't ask me why I didn't think to take a picture of the skein before I knit it up!). So when Snowboarder requested another hat to match his green jacket and goggles, I thought this yarn would be perfect! However, it made it sooooooo hard to part with.

Introducing....

Snowboarder Hat that Rocks!

Pattern: Snowboarder Hat that Rocks! by Irishgirlieknits (ravelry link)

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts De-Vine, 100% merino wool, 225 yards, colorway: Falcon's Eye; for the "Other Hat" I used 2.5 skeins of Karabella Aurora Bulky for a large hat (probably can use 2 for small women's hat)

Needles: US 10 3/4, 16" circular needles (that's what I had; could have gone down to 10 or 10 1/2 for "Other Hat", also used US 8 needle for brim on "Other Hat"), 10 1/2 DPN, cable needle

Gauge: 3.5 stitches= 1" (although ribbing is quite forgiving, just depends on how fitted you want the hat)

Cable Pattern: (modified the "Braided Cable" Stitch from the new Harmony Guides: Cables & Arans by Melanie Falick)

T3B (Twist 3 Back) = slip next st onto cable needle and hold at back of work, knit next 2 sts from left-hand needle, then purl st from cable needle

T3F (Twist 3 Front) = slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at front of work, purl next st from left-hand needle, then knit sts from cable needle

C4B (Cable 4 Back) = slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at back of work, knit next 2 sts from left-hand needle, then knit sts from cable needle

C4F (Cable 4 Front) = slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at front of work, knit next 2 sts from left-hand needle, then knit sts from cable needle

1st Row: p3, T3F, T3B, T3F

2nd Row: p4, k4, p2, k2 (on all even rows, you knit the knits and purl the purls, but I did write out each row)

3rd Row: p4, C4B, p2, k2

4th Row: same as Row 2

5th Row: p3, T3B, T3F, T3B

6th Row: p3, k2, p2, k4, p1

7th Row: p3, k2, p2, C4F, p1

8th Row: same as Row 6


Directions

Earflaps

Cast on 7 sts.

Row 1: Knit

Row 2: Purl

Row 3: Knit into the front & back of the first st (kfb), k5, kfb

Row 4: Purl

Row 5: kfb, k7, kfb

Row 6: Purl

Row 7: kfb, T3F, T3B, T3F, kfb

Row 8: k2, p2, k2, p4, k3

Row 9: p3, C4B, p2, k2, p2

Row 10: k2, p2, k2, p4, k3

Row 11: kfb, p1, T3B, T3F, T3B, p1, kfb (15 sts)

Row 12: k4, p4, k2, p5

Row 13: p3, k2, p2, C4F, p4

Row 14: k4, p4, k2, p5

Cut yarn. Put stitches on holder. Make another earflap.

After Row 14 on the second earflap do not cut the yarn. On the right side, knit the first row of the cable pattern across the 15 sts. Turn and using the cable cast on, cast on 33 stitches. Turn work and attach the other earflap. Continue in the first row of the cable pattern across the second earflap. Turn work and using the cable cast on, cast on 21 stitches. Turn work. Place marker and join to begin working in the round. Begin row 2 of the cable pattern.

Follow Rows 1-8 of the cable pattern for a total of 4 times (approximately 6" or to desired length).

Begin decrease section (note this decrease section can also be used for the Small Women's "Other Hat", but use the alternate decrease for the Large "Other Hat"). The decrease section was a bit tricky as I tried to preserve the cable pattern as much as possible (feedback is more than welcome!).

Row 1: p1, p2tog, T3F, T3B, T3F

Row 2: p3, k4, p2, k2

Row 3: p1, p2tog, C4B, p2, k2

Row 4: p2, k4, p2, k2

Row 5: p2tog, k2, T3F, T3B

Row 6: k2tog (begin k2tog here instead of p2t0g to decrease gaps; cleaner look), k1, p1, k4, p1

Row 7: To preserve the cable for one more row and to decrease the purl stitch at the end of the pattern, the decrease is moving slightly. Undo the last stitch (purl stitch) and put it next to the 1st stitch. K2tog (purl stitch from the last round & 1st knit stitch on new round; will need to move marker). Then k1, p1, C4F. Continue K2tog, K1, p1, C4F the rest of the round.

Row 8: k2tog, p1, k4

Row 9: k2tog, k4

Row 10: k2tog, k3

Row 11: k2tog, k2

Row 12: k2tog, k1

Row 13: k2tog

Pull yarn tightly through remaining stitches. Weave in ends. Make braids (cut 12 pieces, 18" in length).

Hit the slopes!



So, until De-Vine becomes a bit more readily available, I thought I would try the hat in another favorite yarn, Karabella Aurora Bulky. Its not quite as bulky as the De-Vine, but its a decent alternate. These pictures are a bit deceiving though. This hat is probably more of a "Large" or "Mens" size. It was a bit big on Rowan, and I switched to size 9 DPN for the decrease (you can't really tell once I'm wearing it) because I was yes, a bit too lazy to rip it out and I didn't want to give Snowboarder ANOTHER hat. See the notes below for the smaller size, but I haven't knit it yet.

The "Other Hat" that Rocks!

Modifications to above pattern:

Using size 8 needles, cast on 84 stitches. Place marker and join in the round. K1, P1 ribbing for 6 rounds. Change to size 10 or 10.5 needles (note, the above hat was knit with a size US 10 3/4).

Knit Rows 1-8 of the above cable pattern 4 times (approximately 6.5"; for smaller size, knit pattern 3 times, approx. 5").

Begin decrease section (note for small women's hat use the above decrease, its a bit longer). The decrease section was a bit tricky as I tried to preserve the cable pattern as much as possible (feedback is more than welcome!).

Row 1: p1, p2tog, T3F, T3B, T3F

Row 2: p1, p2tog, k4, p2, k2

Row 3: p2tog, C4B, p2, k2

Row 4: k2tog, k3, p2, k2

Row 5: k2tog, T3F, T3B

Row 6: k2tog, k4, p1

Row 7: To preserve the cable for one more row and to decrease the purl stitch at the end of the pattern, the decrease is moving slightly. Undo the last stitch (purl stitch) and put it next to the 1st stitch. K2tog (purl stitch from the last round & 1st knit stitch on new round; will need to move marker). Then C4F. Continue K2tog, C4F the rest of the round.

Row 8: k2tog, k2

Row 9: k2t0g, k1

Row 10: k2tog

Pull yarn tightly through remaining stitches. Weave in ends.

Happy Hat Knitting!!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits